Elektronenstrahlhärtung von Lacken_EN_V2_1_net

FRAUNHOFER INSTITUTE FOR ORGANIC ELECTRONICS, ELECTRON BEAM AND PLASMA TECHNOLOGY FEP
ELECTRON BEAM
CURING OF LACQUERS
Fraunhofer Institute for
Organic Electronics, Electron Beam
and Plasma Technology FEP
Winterbergstr. 28
01277 Dresden
Contact persons
Wolfgang Schwarz
Phone +49 351 2586-245
Frank-Holm Rögner
Phone +49 351 2586-242
The curing of lacquers with low-energy
electrons is an advanced, extremely rapid,
and energy-efficient method for crosslinking
molecules in reactive lacquer
systems at normal pressures.
The lacquers (e.g. acrylate-based systems)
that are cured with this method are
solvent-free, allow the admixing of
pigments, and require no photoinitiators.
The end products often possess better
properties than comparable products that
have been cured with UV radiation.
The properties of the cured lacquer layers
can be customized by altering the process
parameters.
Electron beams are already used to cure
lacquers in a variety of applications. The
technology is already established, for
example, for lacquer finishes for interior
and exterior architectural elements, for the
coating of furniture panels, and for the
production of flooring materials. Potential
applications include barrier layers in the
packaging industry and in photovoltaic
technology.
Electron beam curing promises key benefits
for the manufacture of high-quality barrier
and encapsulation systems for innovative
products such as solar cells, OLEDs, and
printed electronics.
www.fep.fraunhofer.de
The gentle curing conditions mean that
even temperature-sensitive substrates can
be coated with lacquers and cured.

Properties of the cured lacquers
Applications
Our offer
▪▪very low emissions
▪▪high resistance to chemicals
▪▪UV resistance; yellowing does not occur
as no photoinitiators are used
▪▪resistant to elevated temperatures
▪▪high abrasion resistance
▪▪good adhesion on plastic substrates
▪▪uniform lacquer quality
Advantages of the technology
▪▪environmentally friendly, as no solvents
or photoinitiators are used
▪▪energy-efficient
▪▪very fast processing (up to 600 m/min)
and very rapid curing
▪▪can be used with a large variety of
reactive lacquer systems (liquid, powder,
water-soluble, pure substances or
mixtures, biodegradable, biocompatible)
and on a variety of substrates (rigid
or flexible, also temperature-sensitive
substrates)
▪▪the properties of the lacquers
(e.g. surface topography, printing
properties, hardness/elasticity, gloss/
brilliance, depth of hardening) can be
very accurately set by altering the process
parameters such as the dose of energy
▪▪easy processing with low-energy
electrons at normal pressure
▪▪in-line monitoring of the electron beam
power and immediate in-line layer
analysis possible
▪▪curing as a finishing process possible
The technology can be applied to a wide
range of materials. Surface layers down to
a depth of 0.2 mm can be cured.
▪▪flat and 3-D substrates, bulk goods
▪▪car and machine parts
▪▪furniture/doors, flooring (polymers/wood)
▪▪coil coating (sheet materials/white goods)
▪▪special papers, wall coverings, films
(for barriers, packaging, printing, gloss
effects, release films)
▪▪glass articles, architectural glass,
abrasion-resistant layers for optics
▪▪exterior facade elements and interior
architectural elements made of inorganic,
ceramic, metallic, or polymeric materials
▪▪barrier and encapsulation layers for
photovoltaic technology and printed
electronics
We offer:
▪▪expert advice about the technology and
customization to your needs
▪▪selection, testing, and appraisal of
popular commercial electron beam
generators
▪▪development of customer-specific
electron beam generators
▪▪feasibility studies
▪▪pilot trials
▪▪servicing of electron beam generators
▪▪optimization of existing process
technologies (energy, electron beam
power, beam guidance, product
transport)
▪▪accompanying tests for selecting suitable
lacquer systems and for development of
lacquer formulations
▪▪accompanying process and product
analysis
Schematic representation of lacquer curing with an electron beam
beam exit window
uncured lacquer
product transport
electron beam generator
divergent electron beam
cured lacquer
© FRAUNHOFER FEP – 2.1 – D11